Huntsville Botanical Garden to host 2023 APGA Education Symposium next week
Lifestyles, Madison, Madison County Record, News, RSS Twitter, Z - News Main
 By  John Few Published 
2:03 pm Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Huntsville Botanical Garden to host 2023 APGA Education Symposium next week

HUNTSVILLE – Horticulture and environmental educators from across the nation will gather at Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) Feb. 15-17 for the American Public Gardens Association’s (APGA) 2023 Education Symposium.

The theme for this year’s symposium is “Nature Talks: Healing Through Partnerships with the Planet.” Attendees will hear how the educational work of public gardens and arboreta can contribute to a better future for our planet.  

“It’s an honor to host the APGA Education Symposium at the Garden,” said HBG Chief Executive Officer Sue Wagner. “Huntsville is a beautiful city in the middle of one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the South. We’re excited to share with our colleagues from around the country how public gardens fulfill a need for connecting the community to plants and the natural world through programs rooted in STEM education.”

“Our Professional Symposia are opportunities for our members to share new ideas, learn new techniques, and experience new gardens and areas of the country,” said Lauren Garcia Chance, APGA Associate Director of Professional Development. “This is a particularly exciting pairing as our Education Community is one of our most active professional communities, and Huntsville Botanical Gardens is particularly known for their Education programming.”   

The Thursday keynote speaker will be Alex Harkness, Ph.D., from HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. Harkness’ laboratory studies the evolution of plant reproduction. His lab uses large-scale genome sequencing across the flowering plant tree of life to build new genomes for species that reproduce in intriguing ways, and to identify the genes that might control that reproductive strategy. 

Abra Lee, founder of Conquer the Soil, will be the keynote speaker on Friday. A graduate of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and an alumna of the Longwood Gardens Society of Fellows, Lee has worked as a municipal arborist and airport landscape manager. Her organization, Conquer the Soil, is a community that explores the history, folklore and art of horticulture. 

Breakout sessions, tours, and a lunch presentation by LaManda Joy, co-founder of the Great Grown Along, will round out the three-day event. The symposium is sponsored by the Great Grow Along.

For more information about the APGA 2023 Education Symposium, visit publicgardens.org/events. For more information about Huntsville Botanical Gardens, visit hsvbg.org. 

Also on The Madison Record
‘Light Up the Night’ with Huntsville Parks & Recreation at Big Spring Park
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
July 24, 2025
Dr. John Blevins receives Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal, premier award for career federal employees
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
July 24, 2025
Central role Redstone Arsenal plays in national security highlighted in judiciary committee hearing
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
July 23, 2025
Downtown Madison celebrates kickoff to Main Street Madison
A: Main, Business, Madison County Record, ...
Snapshot
Staff Reports 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Madison leaders joined downtown business owners and officials with the Madison Street Alabama program on Thursday to officially kick off the...
Civic groups to conduct candidate forums on Aug. 12 and 19
A: Main, Events, Madison County Record, ...
Two upcoming forums seek questions from residents for the candidates to answer
Gregg Parker 
July 23, 2025
MADISON – The 2025 Municipal Election for the City of Madison on Aug. 26 will decide a new mayor and representatives for City Council in three contest...
Four winners certified in city council elections
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
MARIA RAKOCZY news@themadisonrecord.com 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Winners of four district elections in the city of Madison were certified at last week’s city council meeting. Four candidates ran unconteste...
“Take Back Alabama Town Hall” set for July 28 at Movement Church in Madison
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
in the
Staff Reports 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Community leaders from across North Alabama will gather on Monday, July 28 for the “Take Back Alabama Town Hall” hosted by Moms for Liberty ...
Amanda Browning wins second place in Fleet Reserve Association’s essay contest
Madison County Record, News, Sports, ...
Bob Labbe 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Patriotism is the base of being an American and supporting the United States of America, especially for the veterans of the military who too...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *